Apple Reportedly Running A Secret Lab To Develop Display Tech For Its iPhones And iPads

In order to be reduce its dependence on other hardware manufactures, Apple Inc. has covertly kick-started a secretive production laboratory in Taiwan, reports AppleInsider. Located at Longtan in the northern province of the country, the laboratory will be aimed at churning out a display technology for Apple devices.

Close to 50 engineers from different pockets of the world are part of a team that has started working on the technology that will be part of the display hardware for all Apple products.

Apple had earlier bought the building from Qualcomm Inc. and hired a few engineers from AU Optronics Corp., a local display manufacturer to further its initiative.

The lab has been functional since the beginning of this year and Apple has made sure no one gets a hint about this place. The engineers have been assigned the task of developing display devices that are “thinner, lighter, brighter and more energy-efficient.”

To accomplish this task, Engineers have focused their time and effort towards advancing the liquid-crystal display (LCD) technology. LCD has become the universal display technology and is also used in the Apple flagship devices, the iPhone, iPad and Mac computers. In the confines of the lab, the engineers are also putting to test light-emitting diodes, much favoured by Apple as they make for a thinner display. If AMOLED displays find their way into Apple devices, the diodes can certainly help the iPhones and iPads to do away with backlight feature.

Currently the display technology of all Apple devices is supplied by Samsung, Sharp, LG, and Japan Display Inc.

Apple has been keen to become self-reliant in all aspects of development including developing processors to power its devices. To make its flagship devices more compatible with the software, Apple develops the processors used for the iPhone and iPad. If the developers at the secret lab in Taiwan develop a thinner and more efficient display, then most of the software and hardware used on its devices will be Apple’s own. The lab was reportedly purchased by Apple in April, and in October the Cupertino giant listed the lab as its headquarters for the region.

Surprisingly the same facility was used by Qualcomm to produce its Mirasol screen technology, which was used on the Toq smartwatch designed by the company in 2013.